Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2022
142. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Social Protection if she plans to provide additional financial supports to organisations that are supported by the community employment scheme given the additional burden of rising energy and fuel costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18752/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity Employment (CE) supports projects that provide work experience for long term unemployed persons to assist them entering the open labour market on exit from the CE scheme, while at the same time providing valuable community services. The programme is delivered through CE sponsor organisations in the community and voluntary sector.
CE sponsor organisations receive annual contracts from my department, which funds the employment of both CE participants and CE supervisors. Funding is also provided towards training and material costs. The materials grant is a contribution towards the running costs of the scheme and covers consumable services and materials necessary for the effective operation of the CE project including such items as Employers and Public Liability Insurances, tools, stationery, audit fees, bank charges (excluding bank interest), protective clothing and the hiring of equipment.
Materials funding is provided to CE sponsor organisations in accordance with their requirements. The department provided an additional materials funding of €2 million in Budget 2019 and this additional annual provision continues to be allocated to those projects that identify a valid requirement for additional materials funding.
Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic each CE sponsor organisation maintained different levels of service provision in line with the public health restrictions. For many CE schemes this has resulted in a reduction in materials expenditure while a number of CE schemes have experienced some additional costs.
If a CE sponsor organisation is experiencing difficulty with rising energy and fuel costs and is seeking further funding under the materials grant, they should make an application through the department's Community Development Officer assigned to their CE scheme.
Last November, Minister Humphreys and I announced the availability of a grant of €9 million available to community groups through the Community Activities Fund in the Department of Rural and Community Development. The Community Activities Fund was available to support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities. Groups could also use the funding, administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
